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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-02-1225PWI i i i CLE A N E R S T 0 R M Paul N, D R A I N S 919 Manhattan Ave., Suite 100 Manhattan Beach, California 90Z66 ( L E A N E R P. 310.374.8Z1Z i 310.3741Z13 O C E A N S pawl@adoptastormdrain.com adoptastormdrain.com ,. ® I zr.. _ X. Z � - a Submitted Into the public record in connec °cr :A ' �h /? c,n E• item Al - Priscilla A. Tif<-I vjpson City Cleric www.morrisonhomes.com,r : i'�`g I iNX7. i' r via r xs j ares st0rrhQ,rd 1Fi J C, �s The Clear Solution "ler water -44 The Clear Solution — Educational Outreach Program. "Some officials say that solving the runoff problem will require a massive behavior shift on the part of millions ofpeg le — whose cars and lawns and pets are all contaminating the water. " (fos Angeles Times 11-25-00) In addition to receiving 50% of sponsorship funds, local governments participating in Adopt-- A-StormdrainO may receive comprehensive public educational materials through "The Clear Solution" program. The Clear Solution is a complete clean water community outreach program aimed at inspiring positive changes in human behavior. First Step in Education Adopt-A-Stormdraine signs are the first part of an extensive public education and outreach component to the program.The signs have a general message, such as "Cleaner stormdrains, Cleaner waterways-," which help people make the connection that stormdrains lead directly to our waterways. In addition, the signs have specific messages or Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as "Please do not litter," or "Please recycle used motor oil,' which help people understand how their individual actions affect the problem. EPA's Six Minimum Requirements The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires local governments to achieve six minimum control measures - the first two measures involve public education, outreach, and involvement. The EPA requires local governments to distribute educational materials to the public and to perform outreach. These efforts need to inforn people about the impacts of stormwater discharges on water bodies and instruct them on the steps they can take to reduce pollutants in storm water runoff. Through The Clear Solution, we assist local governments in meeting the first two EPA minimum control measures.This frees up more funds for local governments to use on implementing structural and technological solutions for runoff control and pollution prevention that measurably improve water quality and meet the remaining EPA measures. IA II I' M 1' www. ado ptastormdraimom Submitted Into the p record in conn.' item n / A- ©n �._ A Priscilla A. Thompson City Clerk 02-1225 eT storzo The Solution C% der wate't Adopt-A-Stormdrain' makes it easy to The complete clean water community outreach program. e Clear Solution is a comprehensive clean water community outreach program that can help you fulfill your permit requirements. Geared toward your local residents and businesses, it includes a number of informative that can help both homeowners and corporations improve the quality of your rivers, lakes and oceans. Public service advertising - Newsletters - Educational community brochure Educational business brochure - FAQ sheets - Children's activity book - BMP guideline handouts Water bill inserts - Web page template for posting on local community website List of links and resources - Educational displays for special events Its O R H I' A I N - www. ado ptastormdrain. com For information on The Clear Solution and the or{6tad tastor�n.krain.co P scala A...t �s City r€ ®2-1225 t ' ( ' I www.adoptastormdrainxom WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ADOPT-A-STORMDRAIN Corporate and Business Sponsors "Adopt-A-Stormdrain gives us the opportunity to put our values into action. By purchasing signs, we not only receive the promotional benefits of high impact outdoor advertising, we also benefit by participating in resolving a serious environmental problem — pollution caused by urban and storm water runoff. We all suffer when our beaches and coastal waters are too polluted to be safe for swimming and surfing. This program funds tangible pollution prevention efforts that will measurably improve local water quality. At the end of the day, the entire community benefits from cleaner water. It's great to know we were the first company to come on board with this unique and exciting program." Rod Spackman, Manager of Public and Government Affairs Chevron "Boeing Realty Corporation is proud to participate in programs such as Adopt-A- Stormdrain because they implement our corporate and civic goals of protecting and revitalizing our communities. Being a sound environmental steward is a hallmark of Boeing, and we applaud this type of program that gives back to our world, our employees, and our community." Phil Cyburt, President Boeing Realty Corporation "We are happy to be sponsors of the Adopt-A-Stormdrain program. It's great to be a part of a community effort that brings together business, local government, and the public to resolve such a serious environmental problem. Whenever I drive by the TRW -sponsored Adopt-A-Stormdrain signs, I feel good knowing that our company is contributing to the clean up of our beaches and oceans." John Shepherd, Environmental Services & Quality Manager TRW Space & Electronics "Adopt-A-Stormdrain is a natural tie-in for the Port of Long Beach. Cleaning up our coastal waters is a number one priority. By participating in this program, we have a concrete way to put our values into action and demonstrate our commitment to the environment." Fausto Capobianco, Director of Communications Submitted "rata the public Port of Long Beach record fan connef,,:, 4.n with item Y, 1h_ ,cra !1- 19-0�- Priscilla A. Thompson City Clerk 02®x.225 ' , ' RAIN I www.adoptastormdrainxom "We are proud to be an Adopt-A-Stormdrain sponsor. Not only does the program give us high visibility by providing us with outdoor promotional opportunities, we have the added benefit of partnering with the city and the community to help restore the health of our waterways that are threatened by runoff pollution." Vicki Johnson, President Huntington Beach Transmission "The Adopt-A-Stormdrain signs, carrying our Waste Management logo, align our company with an important environmental issue and give us recognition for it. The best thing about it is that the funds will help our local government put systems in place to eliminate the contaminants flowing into the ocean through our storm drains. It's great to be a part of a program that brings the whole community together to resolve an important environmental problem." Steve Tucker, Director of Operations Waste Management — L.A. Metro "Good Stuff has always been environmentally conscious. Our four restaurants are located in the Santa Monica Bay area. As beach goers, our customers are very aware of how after a big rain, they can't go into the ocean because the water is too polluted. We want them to see that we've stepped up to the plate to take part in resolving this lethal environmental problem. Adopt-A-Stormdrain allows us to do just that." Cris Bennett, Owner Good Stuff Restaurants "The Roadium is pleased to be an Adopt-A-Stormdrain sponsor and have the opportunity to join with the community and local government in concrete efforts to protect the environment. Cleaning up polluted runoff from our urban and storm water is essential if we want to improve our coastal water quality. I don't see this as an option. It's something we must do. Now with funds from the Adopt-A-Stormdrain signs, local governments can apply the technology and structural solutions necessary to clean up our waterways at the source." John Schoen, General Manager Roadium Open Air Market Submitted into the pudic record in con neco) l' n its item r--- Th mp-Son Priscl�ia A. City Clerk 02-1225 I ' , I RAI WiI www.adoptastormdrainam Environmental Advocates "It's undisputed that urban runoff is the greatest polluter of our oceans. Adopt-A- Stormdrain is one of the best ideas I've encountered. It is the type of creative idea that's going to solve the problem ... and a unique opportunity to clean up our waters because all sides can come together and agree on a solution." Steve Fleischli, Executive Director Santa Monica BayKeeper "We've achieved enormous progress in waste water control and treatment but have made few inroads on the more intractable problem of storm water runoff, which contributes mass loads of pollutants, such as oils and heavy metals, to our waterways. The Adopt-A- Stormdrain program offers a concrete solution that will help Sacramento County fund pollution prevention and control systems desperately needed to restore our water quality." Bill Jennings, Executive Director DeltaKeeper Regulatory Agencies "With a population of over 10 million and with 60 million people from all over the world visiting our beaches, it is critical for us to save the health of our public areas as well as our economy. This program [Adopt-A-Stormdrain] is something we should all be celebrating. It's a great way for business to help make our beaches safe places to swim and play." Fran Diamond, Chair and Board Member Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board "Too often we assume that what goes down the drain is not our problem, and'someone else' will deal with it. Discharges to storm drains represent one of the greatest threats to our beaches and coastal waters. Adopt-A-Stormdrain is an important step in insuring greater public awareness, and in spreading the message that each of us must share responsibility for improving water quality." public Dennis Dickerson, Executive Officer Submitted Into the p tic Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board record in conneth ctto item n A- on >> Priscilla A. SOn City ale k ®2=1225 l I DR I l www.adoptastormdrainam "Runoff is the No. 1 threat to public health and water quality at this time in California. We've made major progress in other areas of toxic pollution. In our storm water runoff, we see both chemicals and biological pathogens that are harmful to people and harmful to the environment... It's absolutely critical to get this problem under control." Mary Nichols Governor's Secretary of Resources, State of California Government Officials "The Adopt-A-Stormdrain program improves our quality of life by reducing pollutants that otherwise go into the Santa Monica Bay and onto our beaches." Jane Harman, Congresswoman U.S. House of Representatives, 36th District "Adopt-A-Stormdrain offers an innovative business solution to alleviate a serious environmental problem. With funds from Adopt-A-Stormdrain, we will now be able to increase local resources to manage the county's polluted storm water runoff. The county will use the funds for tangible solutions to measurably reduce pollution. Along with structural improvements, the program will allow us to enhance our community educational campaign. In the long term, it will continue to provide awareness to change public behavior." Roger Dickinson, Supervisor 1" District Sacramento County Board of Supervisors "I'm happy to say we've taken the lead in participating in Adopt-A-Stormdrain. I challenge all the cities of Southern California to consider this program as something they should adopt as well." Greg Hill, Mayor Redondo Beach, California "One of our highest priorities is to clean up our coastal waters, which have been increasingly threatened by pollutants in urban and storm water runoff. Adopt-A- Stormdrain offers a sound business solution to alleviate this serious environmmitted Into the public problem." record in connection vitt Debbie Cook, Mayor item n ✓-� on �i t 4 6 &- Huntington Beach, California Priscilla A. ThomPSo City Cler 02-1225 IADOPT-A-STORM ' RAIN I www.adoptastormdrainxom "The Adopt-A-Stormdrain program offers a proactive solution to the [city's] financial burden ... the biggest advantage, besides cleaning up the commercial streets, is we'll get the removal at essentially no cost to the city. It shows tremendous cooperation between the corporate sector and the local government." Neil Miller, Director Manhattan Beach Pubic Works Department "This program creates a unique partnership between the City of Long Beach and the business community, large and small. It helps educate the general public on ways to be the `solution to pollution.' The signs not only help folks make the connection that storm drains lead directly to the ocean, but they give them common sense action steps on how to become part of the solution. We are now the largest city in the nation to implement this program. The funds generated from the partnerships created will allow for special storm water and pollution prevention studies, demo projects for high tech storm water purification and cleanup efforts, and website enhancements — things we simply could not afford to do without the program. The business community can take great pride in knowing that they have contributed to a program that will create cleaner beaches and a greater quality of life for Long Beach residents and its visitors." Tom Leary, Clean Water Program Officer Long Beach Public Works Department Submitted Into the public record in conn a.:;' -a with ite r" t lJ 1 A- -- A. is City Clerk 02-1225 THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2001 LOS ANGELES EDITION LATIMES. CO M/CALIFORNIA B CALIFORNIA SIo, Anadee Z woo Program Seeks Contributions to Help Stem Ocean -Polluting Runoff Environment: Adopt-A- Stormdrain will aid in cleanup and make beaches safer. Donors will get names on signs. By JEAN MERL TIMES STAFF WRITER The program's name is bound to provoke snickers, but the leaders who unveiled the Adopt-A-Stormdrain project in Redondo Beach on Wednesday have a serious mission: to help stem the staggering flow of ocean -polluting runoff at California's beaches. Modeled on the high -visibility Adopt -A -Highway program that for years has removed tons of litter from the nation's roads, the drain project seeks to team corporations with local governments, environmentalists and private donors to attack a problem that has long sickened swimmers and harmed sea life. The money raised by the project will go for public awareness and education, to clean catch basins, scrub parking lots and install pollution -reducing devices along various stretches of storm drain systems. Donors will get their names on modestly sized "Cleaner Storm Drains, Cleaner Oceans" signs to be posted along the system. Filthy runoff --containing animal feces, pesticides, oils from parking lots and toxics from cleaning solutions --are carried to the sea in a maze of pipes, rivers and flood -control channels. That is the major cause of pollution at the nation's beaches. Los Angeles County suffers the worst urban runoff problem in the country, officials say, despite increased regulation and cleanup efforts. "This program brings together cities, the communities and corporations. It helps take some of the pressure off the taxpayers . . . and really moves this issue forward," Paul Polizzotto, founder and president of the nonprofit Adopt-A-Stormdrain program, said at a news conference to launch the proj ect. Polizzotto, whose interest in storm drains grew from his surfing and from the "environmentally compliant" industrial cleaning company he helped found, developed a plan through which corporations and individual donors can contribute money. Most of those funds will go directly to participating cities. "I'm happy to say we've taken the lead," said Redondo Beach Mayor Greg Hill, whose city this week became the first to sign up. "I challenge all the cities in Southern California ... to consider this program as something they should adopt as well." First corporate sponsor to sign up was the Chevron El Segundo Refinery, followed by AES, which operates an electrical power generating station in Redondo Beach, TRW and Good Stuff "This is a great way for business to help make our beaches safe places to swim and play," Harman said. About 64 billion gallons of toxic runoff flowed into Southern California's largest rivers and creeks during 1972. By 1995, that amount had risen to 800 billion gallons, according to the Southern California Coastal Research Project. Earlier this month, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a report showing the number of beach closures because of polluted runoff nearly doubled last year. Given that, Polizzotto acknowl- edged, the new program is just a drop in the, um, storm drain. "But if we all work together, we can solve this problem," Polizzotto said. Polizzotto chose as the setting for the program's kickoff news conference the S.E.A. (for Science, Education, Adventure) Laboratory in Redondo Beach, which provides a home and breeding grounds for some of Santa Monica Bay's struggling sea creatures. As officials talked about their program, children leaned over the lab's tide pool in its outdoor patio, watching the halibut, bat rays, opal -eye and horn shark. Govanna Vazouez. 11. has been restaurants in nearby Hermosa Beach coming to classes at the lab weekly and Manhattan Beach. How much they this summer with youngsters from will give and to which cities has yet to Esperanza Community Housing in Los be determined, officials said. Angeles. Govanna knows all about the Touting the program at importance of storm drains. Wednesday's news conference was "People need to pick up their trash Rep. Jane Harman (D -Redondo and not throw it in the street," Beach), who called Adopt -A- Govanna said. And although she likes Stormdrain a creative approach to a going to the beach, she knows it is not complicated challeng-Qkl X� : ;Sralways safe to go in the water. plug °a lu for morec i n y,;, "I don't want to go in when it makes r� 9iiAGP�"� you sick," she saiyl: ,� �i S A C R A A E N T O usi ess Jour al sacramento.bajoumals.com EL DORADO PLACER SACRAMENTO Y O L O AUGUST 16, 2002 VOL. 18, NO.23 $1.50. 'Adopt -a -drain' program targets stormwater runoff CELIA LAMB / STAFF WRITER The county of Sacramento has con- tracted with a private company called Adopt-A-Stormdrain LLC to recruit businesses to help pay for stormwater pollution prevention programs. The Board of Supervisors approved the county's involvement in the Adopt- A-Stormdrain program Aug. 6. It's modeled after the well-known Adopt - A -Highway program. In exchange for $300 to $350 per month, businesses get a colorful sign with the words "Cleaner storm drains, cleaner waterways" and their company logo placed on a heavily trafficked Sacramento County street — not necess- arily near a storm drain. So far Adopt-A-Stormdrain has signed up five Sacramento County bus- inesses: Morrison Homes, L&D Landfill, Earth Saver, Total Site Maintenance and Ecorp. Signs for each have been ordered, and it's expected they'll be up in about a month. Eighty percent of the money raised will go to Sacramento County for use in meeting the federal Clean Water Act requirements intended to reduce pollutants in stormwater and urban runoff. The project is projected to raise about $190,000 a year for the county. Adopt-A-Stormdrain recruits business sponsors, makes the signs, pro- `The county has vides storm- no cost and no risk. water pollution- bring in prevention edu- all thea sponsors. We cation programs thave to manage o the county the entire and pockets the program.' other 20 percent in revenue. Paul Polizzotto "The county Founder, Adopt -A - has no cost and Stormdrain no risk," said Adopt-A-Stormdrain founder Paul Polizzotto. "We bring in all of the sponsors. We have to manage the entire program." Main owner was a surfer: Polizzotto Adopt-A-Stormdrain's primary owner, grew up surfing on Manhattan Beach in Southern California and got interested in helping to clean up Santa Monica Bay. Before starting Adopt-A-Stormdrain, he owned a company that would clean the grounds of high-rise office build- ings and manufacturers each August and September, before fall rains could wash litter and chemicals off pavement and down storm drains. He developed the Adopt -A -Storm - drain program to help local govern- ments deal with unfunded federal mandates of the Clean Water Act. Adopt-A-Stormdrain has eight muni- cipal customers; the largest is Long Beach. With 600 square miles and 600,000 people, Sacramento County is the biggest local government involved in the program so far. It's also the first county. facilities to insure compliance with stormwater regulations, for example. And the federal government might require the county to inspect construction sites on certain dates, rather than simply as needed. "We're trying to get our arms around how much (stormwater pollution pro- grams costs) will increase," Jensen said. The county currently pays for stormwater pollution -prevention and regulation programs through funds raised from utility taxes, but raising the tax would require a public vote, Jensen said. So the county is seeking other ways to raise funds. New fees on businesses are a possibility, Jensen said, for tasks like industrial inspections. What the adoptees are buying: The county hopes to use money raised from Adopt-A-Stormdrain to fund public education programs that would otherwise have to be cut. Costlier inspections ahead? Mean- One example is a pesticide education while, Sacramento County is nego- program the county operates with tiating for renewal of a federal permit master gardeners from the University of that governs stormwater runoff into the California Cooperative Extension. area's creeks and rivers, said Cecelia Master gardeners offer clinics and place Jensen, Sacramento County's Storm kiosks at stores like Home Depot to Water Program manager. The permit educate people about responsible expired in May 2001, and the county pesticide use. has been operating on an extension Jensen said the county consulted while all parties await the results of other municipalities about Adopt -A - legal challenges of stormwater- Stormdrain before agreeing to a discharge permit requirements by the contract. cities of Los Angeles and San Diego. A "The feedback we got from them was draft permit is expected in September. very positive," she said. "As other "We're faced with the challenge of agencies become aware of this trying to plan for and comply with program, they're generating a lot of permits that are getting pretty re- interest." strictive," Jensen said. Polizzotto expects Adopt -A -Storm - Instead of simply requiring agencies drain will have about $1 million in to reduce emissions of particular revenue this year, and hopes to build pollutants, she said, the federal govern- the business to $30 million to $50 ment has increasingly put requirements million in annual revenue in a few for specific programs in stormwater. years. The new permit may req 'A01— r ,? county to regularly inspect all inauvsttl /d r-- i,ern_nV � �� ,, ��- 02-1225 z 4l ek.� �'iar3 DAILY JO-taT $1.25 Monday, February 4, 2002 Stormdrains may go up for adoption ■ Building on the adopt - a -highway concept, a California businessman says he has an idea for raising money to help prevent stormwater poll- ution. By DAVID JACKSON Journal Staff Reporter If Paul Polizzotto has his way, budget - strapped local governments around the country could soon have what amounts to an unencumbered annuity to pay, for stormwater pollution prevention. His program, Adopt-A-Stormdrain, is modeled on the seemingly ubiquitous Adopt -A -Highway program where bus- inesses and other groups sponsor sections of road for litter control and other maintenance. Like the highway program, Adopt-A- Stormdrain pairs public environmental benefits with corporate goodwill and image -building. "Our goal is to provide funding that's not vulnerable to budgets," says Poli- zzotto. No, corporate sponsors don't get their names on storm grates. Rather, they get stylized signage provided and maintained by Adopt-A- Stormdrain and posted on public lightpoles. The signs also include a public service message, like "Use recycled motor oil," that qualifies as community outreach and education under the federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit rules every municipality must follow. The municipality gets 50 percent of the funding without any administrative costs plus permit compliance. Then, Polizzotto says, "Cities need to focus on how to intelligently spend the money." Adopt-A-Stormdrain is already up and running in Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach in the Los Angeles area, which studies say has the worst stormwater runoff problem in the nation. Typical expenditures there have been for catch basin filtration systems, maintenance and zero discharge parking lot and garage cleaning.° Manhattan Beach, for example cleans. x`• all of its public lots and structures in V September, just before the rainy season,E;'; to prevent runoff" Initial sponsors included Chevron - Texaco's El Segundo refinery and power giant AES Corp. — companies some would say could use an -H environmental image boost —as well as local law firms and restaurants. "Through this corporate sponsorship we have cleaner storm drains and cleaner water," Polizzotto says. Though he has initially organized it as E� a non-profit, Polizzotto is hoping to•, expand more quickly into other cities as k a regular corporation. An Adopt-A- Stormdrain foundation will continue to Stylized signs like this one in exist, benefiting environmental char- California announce corporate ities. Some of those groups, like Santa participation in the Adopt -A - Monica Baykeeper, provided key Stormdrain program. support when Polizzotto was getting Adopt-A-Stormdrain off the ground. "Keeping beaches free of pollution is Last week Polizzotto and his the number one issue among (L.A. colleague Carla Contreras were in area) residents," Polizzotto says. Seattle to gauge the Puget Sound Later, as owner of private cleaning region's response to the Adopt -A- company, Property Prep, Polizzotto was Stormdrain idea, meeting with federal, the first to offer environmentally state and local environmental regulators compliant contract parking lot and as well as advocacy groups like Puget outdoor cleaning services to property Soundkeeper Alliance. owners. The company, now with 150 "The consensus is I think it can employees, captures runoff from its work," Polizzotto says. cleaning activities for treatment. Clients Polizzotto's interest in clean water include Wright Runstad's Cedar -Sinai springs from an early age. Bom in Medical Office Buildings. Bellvue, he moved to California with Currently, Adopt-A-Stormdrain has his family when he was a toddler. about 25 signs up in its two Growing up in Manhattan Beach, he participating cities. But the idea has became an avid surfer. To this day, momentum. Six other California juris- are in the process of launching beaches in Southern California a P g s lc, P��at�pns �a often closed aft iE s �q�t-A-Stormdrain programs. `4 `, ; °'" of high bacteria cb'in s r .t tZ t .. t,.; a t we're most proud of," "we've �;cb °' Polizzotto says, is gone from a +,.e_ ____ �' — t to an actual enterprise." p• I`ll+ piiSCiii� City derv, 02-1225